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| Fall Leagues Weekly Update (11/17) |
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By Joe Ritzo 11/17/2008
Posey, Waikiki Claim Hawaii League Championship
Buster Posey's three-run homer keyed
Waikiki's 5-1 victory in the
championship game on Sunday
(photo by Chris Talley) |
The Waikiki BeachBoys concluded their season on Sunday with an exciting victory to claim the league championship. The 5-1 win was highlighted by Buster Posey’s three-run homer as the slugging catcher put the finishing touches on an outstanding fall campaign. Meanwhile, action down in Arizona has entered its final week with Kevin Pucetas continuing to post impressive numbers.
Hawaii –
It was an exciting final weekend for the BeachBoys as the club secured a division title with a thrilling victory on Saturday before winning the league title the following day. Waikiki fought off a hard-charging Honolulu squad on the final day of the regular season thanks to a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning for a 5-4 victory. The win capped the regular season with a 19-17 overall record – 1 1/2 games ahead of Honolulu for the top spot in the division.
Up next was a contest against West Oahu in the winner-take-all championship tilt and the BeachBoys remained red hot, thanks in large part to Posey’s big hit. The former first round pick belted a three-run homer in the seventh inning to give Waikiki a 5-1 cushion before the club cruised to the championship. Posey, an All-League selection, did not homer once during the regular season, however, the top prospect did finish fourth in the league with a .338 batting average to go with 15 RBI’s. Posey certainly did nothing to hurt his status as a legitimate top prospect with his performance in Hawaii.
Roger Kieschnick, a fellow 2008 draftee, struggled down the stretch for Waikiki as he collected just three hits in his last 26 at-bats spanning seven games. Two of those three hits were home runs though to give the outfielder a total of six during the regular season. Kieschnick, who could see action in San Jose at some point during the 2009 season, was tied for first in the league in home runs and fourth in RBI’s (25). One point of concern though was a high strikeout total as the left-handed hitting slugger fanned a whopping 46 times in just 110 at-bats. Kieschnick, who often hit fourth or fifth in the BeachBoys starting lineup, finished the season with a .236 batting average.
Waldis Joaquin started on the mound during Saturday’s regular season finale, but struggled mightily when he allowed three earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings. It was an up-and-down fall season for the hard-throwing hurler as he compiled a 2-3 record and 5.97 ERA over eight starts. Joaquin spent the majority of his 2008 season as a relief pitcher with the Augusta GreenJackets (Low-A) before a late-July promotion to San Jose. In the California League, Joaquin pitched as both a starter and a reliever with mixed results. Still only 21 years old, Joaquin is considered a top pitching prospect in the organization, largely due to his mid-90’s fastball. It remains to be seen whether he begins the 2009 season as a starter or if the organization sees him as a late-inning reliever. Whatever his role, a return to San Jose next April could be in the cards.
Finally, it was a rough fall campaign for Steve Edlefsen. A key component of last season’s San Jose bullpen, Edlefsen was never able to get on track in Hawaii. The right-hander appeared in 11 games (all in relief) and finished with a lofty 10.66 ERA to go with 12 walks and 14 strikeouts in just 12 2/3 innings. Edlefsen did finish strong though with no runs allowed over his last two appearances (two innings).
Arizona –
Scottdale’s season will come to a close this Thursday as only four games are left on the schedule. The Scorpions currently sit in last place in their division with a 10-20 overall record, but don’t fault Pucetas for their struggles. The 2008 California League Pitcher of the Year delivered two more effective starts last week.
On Monday, the right-hander worked five dominant innings with just two hits and one run allowed to earn the victory. Then on Saturday, Pucetas surrendered two earned runs during a four-inning stint on the mound. Overall, Pucetas owns a 4-1 record and an impressive 3.45 ERA over seven starts. He’s held the opposition to a .219 batting average while he’s first in the league in innings pitched (31 1/3) and tied for first in victories.
Out of the bullpen, the struggles continue for past San Jose Giants Osiris Matos (9.39 ERA) and Kelvin Pichardo (11.57 ERA), but Alex Hinshaw has enjoyed moderate success. Hinshaw, who became one of San Francisco’s best relief options last summer (3.40 ERA), leads the Scorpions with an eye-catching 25 strikeouts in just 14 innings. At times, Hinshaw has been hit hard as evident by a 7.07 ERA. However, the 2006 San Jose Giant remains on target to continue his role as a key reliever for the major league squad next spring.
Offensively, Kevin Frandsen has hit safely in five consecutive games and 16 out of his last 17 contests. The infielder is currently batting .325 with one home run and 16 RBI’s. Frandsen has also been very active on the basepaths with 10 steals – tied for second in the league.
Emmanuel Burriss is tied for fourth in stolen bases (7) to go with a .325 batting average and one home run. Meanwhile, Ryan Rohlinger has heated up as the third baseman pounded out three hits in four at-bats during a contest last Wednesday. Rohlinger, who has received sporadic playing time this fall, is batting .240 with two home runs in 56 at-bats.
Others –
Pablo Sandoval had a weekend to remember as the former San Jose Giant blasted four home runs and collected seven RBI’s as part of a 6-for-9 effort at the plate last Friday-through-Sunday. Sandoval, who is playing in the Venezuelan League, is now batting .419 in 86 at-bats. The 22-year old is second in the league in hitting, tied for second in home runs (9) and fourth in RBI’s (23).
Sergio Romo, who like Sandoval became a key member of the major league Giants toward the end of last season, is enjoying plenty of success while playing in the Mexican League. Romo has five straight relief appearances without allowing a run and is tied for fourth in the league with six saves. Overall, the right-hander boasts a 1.76 ERA to go with 18 strikeouts and just one walk in 15 1/3 innings.
Statistics (2008 San Jose Giants) –
Arizona
Darren Ford: .143 (2-for-14), 0 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2 SB
Kevin Pucetas: 7 GS, 4-1, 3.45 ERA, 31.1 IP 12 ER, 9 BB, 24 SO
Ryan Rohlinger: .240 (12-for-56), 1 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB
Hawaii
Steve Edlefsen: 11 G, 0-0, 10.66 ERA, 12.2 IP, 15 ER, 12 BB, 14 SO
Waldis Joaquin: 8 GS, 2-3, 5.97 ERA, 31.2 IP, 21 ER, 19 BB, 20 SO
Buster Posey: .338 (25-for-74), 4 2B, 0 HR, 15 RBI, 0 SB
Dominican Republic
Henry Sosa: 3 GS, 0-0, 4.35 ERA, 10.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 BB, 8 SO
Venezuela
Pablo Sandoval: .419 (36-for-86), 6 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 23 RBI, 0 SB
Statistics (Others) –
Arizona
Emmanuel Burriss: .325 (26-for-80), 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 7 SB
Kevin Frandsen: .325 (38-for-117), 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 10 SB
Alex Hinshaw: 11 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 7.07 ERA, 14.0 IP, 11 ER, 6 BB, 25 SO
Osiris Matos: 8 G, 0-0, 9.39 ERA, 7.2 IP, 8 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
Kelvin Pichardo: 11 G, 0-0, 11.57 ERA, 11.2 IP, 15 ER, 6 BB, 9 SO
Hawaii
Roger Kieschnick: .236 (26-for-110), 5 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB
Mexico
Justin Hedrick: 7 G, 1-0, 5.68 ERA, 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO
Todd Jennings: .230 (23-for-100), 6 2B, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB
Sergio Romo: 13 G, 0-0, 1.76 ERA, 6 SV, 15.1 IP, 3 ER, 1 BB, 18 SO
Puerto Rico
Adam Cowart: 3 G, 0-1, 10.12 ERA, 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Eddy Martinez-Esteve: .400 (10-for-25), 4 2B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB
Jason Waddell: 3 G, 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
Venezuela
Eliezer Alfonzo: .333 (33-for-99), 6 2B, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 1 SB
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